Posted by Ritch on December 20, 2002, at 8:55:42
In reply to Seeking Reassurance, posted by Mr.Scott on December 20, 2002, at 1:59:06
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> I have bipolar II, some ADHD, and anxiety spectrum disorders. I'm primarily depressed, but bipolar/temporal lobe seizure tendencies emerge upon taking virtually any antidepressant. These tendencies can get pretty wild and range from increased distractibility to anxiety and agitation to aggression impulsiveness and rage if the wrong combination of stuff is going down (environmental and or chemical). Enough Prozac and Wellbutrin in combination will cause me to go completely mad. I can induce mixed and rapid cycling predictably with these two meds in combo at standard doses. Yet no AD at all and I'm ready to accept my death by my own hand.
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> I can probably 'get by' in this lifetime with a pinch of AD (pretty much any SSRI or Effexor) combined with a benzo. But I worry that I should be hunting for a more legitimate anticonvulsant regimen that will endure, or even ditching the AD's all together and going ALL anticonvulsant in accordance with the latest theories on bipolar. My doctor is light years behind me on this stuff and wants to discuss 'psychology' each week.
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> I want the perfect anticonvulsant cocktail, not to discuss my dysfunctional family. Where is my logic twisted?
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> ScottScott, your logic isn't twisted at all. Most pdocs are going to at least make some primary med choices and tweaks to treat your *core symptoms*. If those core symptoms aren't under control it is difficult for any therapy to help. Environmental things can wig me out big time as well. But, without meds those stressors probably would wind up costing me my job or worse. Bipolar is probably the most genetic mental illness around, and if you don't get the meds nailed down reasonably well, therapy is just going to be chasing its tail. The only therapy that has helped me is just the very basic core CBT type things (fundmamental irrational assumptions, ie), and a willingness to "sample" opinions of others about my feelings (to help gauge their objectivity). It sounds like you may need to target a psychopharmacologist first thing and THEN let them refer you into therapy that is going to be the most beneficial given your particular set of probs. BTW, they sound just like mine!-- good luck, Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:132575
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021217/msgs/132601.html